Stage 1: Academic aptitude

Only those who meet our academic entry requirements (at GCSE and A-level) or have achieved the requisite grades at GCSE and are predicted at least AAB at A-level (or equivalent in other qualifications) will progress to Stage 2.

The UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT) score is not considered in our selection process. Please note, from 2016 entry onwards, all applicants will be expected to take the Biomedical Admissions Test (BMAT).

Stage 2: BioMedical Admissions Test

From 2016 entry onwards, all applicants must take the Biomedical Admissions test (BMAT) to be eligible to be considered at Lancaster Medical School.

More information about BMAT, how to register and how to prepare for the test can be found on the BMAT website.

Registration and taking the test:

You must register to be able to take BMAT. Registration is separate from the UCAS application process and the deadline is BEFORE the UCAS application deadline (see below), although late registration is accepted up until 15th October.

There are two possible dates on which to take the BMAT: Saturday 1st September and Wednesday 31st October. The registration and test-taking procedure differs between the two dates (see below and BMAT website)

Wed 31st Oct: Candidates cannot register themselves; they need to register via a test centre (often their school or college)

Registration 1/9/18 – 1/10/18 (standard entry fee)

Late registration deadline: 15/10/18

Test taken in school, 6th form college or other test centre

Lancaster Medical School will accept BMAT results from both test dates but applicants are only permitted to take BMAT once per admissions cycle. If you opt to take BMAT in September 2018, you cannot then register and take BMAT for a second time in October 2018. If you have any questions regarding this policy, please contact Lancaster Medical School: medicine@lancaster.ac.uk

Preparing for BMAT:

Part of the BMAT assesses your ability to apply what you have learned in GCSE Science and Mathematics (or equivalent) in a different context. If you are good at Science and Maths, you are likely to do well in the BMAT.

There is information on the BMAT website about how to prepare for the test, including free specimen and past papers. There is no need to undertake any preparatory coaching courses but the following simple steps will help you prepare for the test:

Make sure that you are familiar with the format of questions in each section.

Review the test specification, including the assumed knowledge sections.

If you are not studying Maths or Physics A-level (all applicants will offer Biology and Chemistry A-levels), then you may need to revise the topics covered in GCSE for these subjects.

Attempt practice papers for all three sections, under timed conditions. Evidence suggests that this is the most effective way to prepare for BMAT.

In 2015, a survey revealed that BMAT candidates spent 30 hours, on average, preparing for the test

How is BMAT used in the selection process?

Applicants will be ranked according to their BMAT score and the top-ranking applicants will progress to Stage 3.

Stage 3: Multiple mini interviews

No applicant will be offered a place without being interviewed in person. The Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) will usually be held in January and February. The exact timing of the MMI days will vary from year to year but we aim to give applicants two weeks’ notice of their MMI date.

The MMI consists of 12-14 different 'stations', most of which will be 5 minutes long. Some stations will consist of a short interview, where you may be asked questions about your career choice, work experience or suitability for a medical career. At others, you may be asked to read a short paragraph or watch a short video clip, take some notes and then discuss at a subsequent station. An additional 20 minute station will involve group work and will assess your suitability for our problem-based learning curriculum. Applicants who are selected for interview will be sent detailed information prior to their interview. The applicant’s performance at each station is assessed by trained interviewers, against clearly defined criteria. Interviewers include members of University staff, NHS clinicians, local GPs, patients and public representatives, and medical students.

Applicants are assessed at each station and given a score for their performance at that station. The station scores are summed and applicants ranked according to their overall MMI score. Those with the highest score will be made an offer of a place to study medicine. All offers are conditional upon being deemed Fit to Practice (stage 4).

Stage 4: Fitness to Practice

The professional body that governs medical practice in the UK, the General Medical Council (GMC), has specific requirements to protect staff and patient safety. In accordance with these requirements, all medical students must have the ability to function as a fully competent doctor and fulfil the rigorous demands of professional fitness to practice.

Please refer to our Fitness to Practice pages for information for potential applicants about the fitness to practice requirements at the application stage and the fitness to practice expectations of medical students. Applicants are advised to familiarise themselves with the expectations of medical students to ensure that they are able to comply with these requirements before applying.